Homegrown confidence fuels LIU-Brooklyn guard tandem

Updated 2:05 am, Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Photo: Courtesy Photo / LIU Brooklyn Athletics

Image 1of/17

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 17

LIU Brooklyn attributes much of its recent success to Northside ISD products like Clark’s Jason Brickman. Their coach, Jim Ferry, says while it’s tough to beat New York as a city, “San Antonio is No. 2.”

LIU Brooklyn's Jamal Olasewere ,left, Booker Hucks,center, and Jason Brickman, right, pose for a photograph as they celebrate their third consecutive NEC trophy following their NCAA Northeast Conference

Over the years, former San Antonio high school players like Shaquille O'Neal have appeared in the NCAA tournament. O'Neal, throwing down a dunk in the 1991 tournament, played for Cole High School and LSU. The following local players are in this year's tournament. less

Over the years, former San Antonio high school players like Shaquille O'Neal have appeared in the NCAA tournament. O'Neal, throwing down a dunk in the 1991 tournament, played for Cole High School and LSU. The ... more

Photo: BILL WAUGH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Image 5 of 17

Taft graduate Julian Boyd - LIU-Brooklyn

Taft graduate Julian Boyd - LIU-Brooklyn

Photo: KIN MAN HUI, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Image 6 of 17

Taft graduate Julian Boyd - LIU-Brooklyn

Taft graduate Julian Boyd - LIU-Brooklyn

Photo: BOB OWEN, San Antonio Express-News

Image 7 of 17

Clark graduate Jason Brickman - LIU-Brooklyn

Clark graduate Jason Brickman - LIU-Brooklyn

Photo: KIN MAN HUI, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Image 8 of 17

Clark graduate Jason Brickman - LIU-Brooklyn

Clark graduate Jason Brickman - LIU-Brooklyn

Photo: TOM REEL, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Image 9 of 17

Wagner graduate Jordan Clarkson - Missouri

Wagner graduate Jordan Clarkson - Missouri

Photo: James Gibbard, AP

Image 10 of 17

Wagner graduate Jordan Clarkson - Missouri

Wagner graduate Jordan Clarkson - Missouri

Photo: KIN MAN HUI, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Image 11 of 17

Antonian graduate Darrious Hamilton - Boise State

Antonian graduate Darrious Hamilton - Boise State

Photo: TOM REEL, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Image 12 of 17

Antonian graduate Darrious Hamilton - Boise State

Antonian graduate Darrious Hamilton - Boise State

Photo: TOM REEL, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Image 13 of 17

Wagner graduate Andre Roberson - Colorado

Wagner graduate Andre Roberson - Colorado

Photo: Jeff Gross, Getty Images

Image 14 of 17

Wagner graduate Andre Roberson - Colorado

Wagner graduate Andre Roberson - Colorado

Photo: MARVIN PFEIFFER, PRIMETIME NEWSPAPERS

Image 15 of 17

Stevens graduate Brandon Thompson - LIU-Brooklyn

Stevens graduate Brandon Thompson - LIU-Brooklyn

Photo: COURTESY LIU BROOKLYN ATHLETICS

Image 16 of 17

Stevens graduate Brandon Thompson - LIU-Brooklyn

Stevens graduate Brandon Thompson - LIU-Brooklyn

Photo: TOM REEL, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Image 17 of 17

Homegrown confidence fuels LIU-Brooklyn guard tandem

1 / 17

Back to Gallery

After two trips to the NCAA tournament in the past two seasons, members of LIU-Brooklyn vow they won't be intimidated by college basketball's biggest stage again.

One of the major reasons for any potential success the Blackbirds might have in their first-round game tonight against James Madison will be the play of their two starters from San Antonio.

Guards Jason Brickman and Brandon Thompson have developed into key producers for the Blackbirds, who lost as a No. 16 seed against North Carolina in 2011 and as a 15th seed against Michigan State last season.

Brickman, a Clark graduate who leads the nation in assists, said his first NCAA tournament game against the Tar Heels in 2011 was an eye-opening, harrowing experience.

“I was really nervous,” Brickman said. “My hands were sweaty playing in front of a huge crowd, playing on national television against the defending national champions. I was just trying not to turn the ball over.”

But that experience helped get LIU-Brooklyn players ready for their next tournament game against Michigan State last season. And they played much better, falling behind by only five points at halftime before the Spartans wore them down in an 89-67 triumph.

Most Popular

“We were more confident in the second game,” Brickman said. “We felt more comfortable playing in the tournament, and I think it showed.”

That previous work should help against James Madison, the champions of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament, in the first-round game. The winner will advance for a shot Friday night at East No. 1 seed Indiana.

“This time, I think we should be calmed down a little,” said Thompson, a Stevens graduate who transferred to LIU-Brooklyn from South Plains College after starting his career at Arizona State. “We have a good core and know what we have to do. We have the pieces to be an upset team.”

The Blackbirds (20-13) have endured many obstacles this season to get to the tournament. Their biggest challenge came in December when Julian Boyd, a Taft graduate and the 2012 Northeast Conference Player of the Year, went down with a season-ending knee injury.

Boyd, who was credited by former coach Jim Ferry for recruiting Brickman and Thompson, is making steady progress after ACL surgery and will petition the NCAA for a sixth season of eligibility. His presence remains strong on the team, especially for his hometown teammates.

The magnitude of Boyd's departure crystallized for them several days after the injury when he returned to the team for the first time. As players were going through their workout, they saw the burly power forward break down along the sidelines as he realized what he would be missing.

“He took it really hard not being able to play the game he loved,” Thompson said. “When we saw him break down that day, it really brought the rest of us together. We wanted to go out and win the conference championship for him.”

New coach Jack Perri helped the team overcome a 5-10 start as he juggled his rotation after Boyd's injury. The Blackbirds also endured late-season conference losses to Mount St. Mary's and Wagner before beating both in the NEC tournament. They won the title game by whipping Mount St. Mary's by 21 points, shooting 61.4 percent from the field.

“It's been a total roller-coaster ride,” Perri said. “We were dead and buried twice. When Julian went down, we had to re-invent ourselves, and these guys just stayed the course.”

Even without Boyd, the Blackbirds remain one of the nation's most potent offensive teams. LIU-Brooklyn is among only three nationally ranked teams among the top 30 in scoring, field-goal percentage, 3-point percentage and assists. The others are Belmont and Creighton.

That work has enabled the Blackbirds to become the first team in NEC history to win the championship three consecutive years.

But this year's group isn't merely satisfied with that accomplishment. Instead, they are determined to earn their first NCAA victory in their sixth tournament trip.

“This year has been a challenge, but we kept our poise,” Thompson said. “We've had some ups and downs, but we've shown the character we have. People have doubted us all the way to the championship, and we want to keep proving them wrong.”